A nanopore-ARROW biosensor for life detection

摘要

Recent developments in nanopore analysis of macromolecules and liquid-core optical waveguides have the potential to allow fabrication of fully planar optofluidic labs-on-a-chip. Nanopores are able to detect single molecules of biopolymers such as DNA and proteins, and liquid-core antiresonant reflecting optical (ARROW) waveguides also have this capability. We are developing an instrument that combines the strengths of both approaches which we believe will lead to a high-performance, low-cost instrument suitable for life detection on planetary surfaces such as Mars and Europa.